Results of Oakland teachers' strike vote to be announced on Monday

OAKLAND (BCN) The union that represents Oakland teachers said on Friday that teachers are wrapping up four days of voting on a strike authorization proposal and the results of the vote will be announced on Monday afternoon.

The Oakland Education Association said if the authorization proposal is approved it would allow union leaders to call a strike, if necessary, to win the smaller class sizes, living wages for educators and additional student resources that educators are fighting for, including more counselors and school nurses.

Contract talks between the school district and the union have been going on for about a year and a half.

The teachers' union said Friday is the second and final day of a hearing with a state-appointed neutral fact-finder who is tasked with helping to resolve the contract negotiations by issuing a non-binding report, which is expected by Feb. 15.

The union, which represents 3,000 educators in the Oakland Unified School District, said it can legally strike after the report is issued.

Oakland teachers have noted that the last time they went on strike in 1996 it lasted for more than two months.

The union said the strike vote results will be announced at a news conference at its representative council meeting at 4 p.m. on Monday at Oakland Technical High School at 4351 Broadway.

The union said it also will conduct a rally at Frank Ogawa Plaza in front of City Hall at 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday.

It said hundreds of educators will urge the City Council to adopt a resolution on its agenda that night supporting teachers and opposing school closures, as the district plans to close or merge up to 24 schools over five years.

The Oakland Education Association said it is affiliated with the 325,000-member California Teachers Association. It said so far at least 17 other Bay Area CTA chapters of union teachers have pledged nearly $20,000 to the OEA strike fund to help teachers facing financial hardships during a strike.

The union also said it has launched a GoFundMe drive to help teachers cope during a work stoppage.